Feinstein: White House Must Preserve Any Recordings of Trump, Comey Conversations

Washington—Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on the White House to preserve any recordings of conversations between President Trump and FBI Director Comey:

“If President Trump actually has recordings of his conversations with FBI Director Comey that is a very serious matter, particularly since he appears to be threatening the FBI Director with their release. Any recordings must be preserved by the White House.”

Feinstein’s letter to White House Counsel Donald McGahn follows:

May 12, 2017

Donald F. McGahn
White House Counsel
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20501

Dear Mr. McGahn:

I am writing to ask that you take immediate steps to ensure that any recordings of conversations involving the President and former FBI Director James Comey have been preserved. As you are likely aware, the President stated on Twitter this morning: “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

Any such recordings are subject to the Presidential Records Act and, therefore, should have been preserved already. I ask that you confirm that this is the case. To the extent that no such recordings exist, please confirm that fact in writing and explain the President’s statements about possible recordings from earlier today.

I appreciate your prompt attention and request a response as soon as possible but, in any event, no later than May 19, 2017.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator